Obituaries, February 12, 2013

SODDY DAISY, TN — Manning Brooks Mahaffee Sr., age 69, died Saturday, February 9, 2013. A graveside service will be conducted at noon on Thursday. Military honors will be accorded by the Rutherford County Honor Guard. The family will receive friends from 11 until 11:45 a.m. at the funeral home prior to the service at the cemetery. Harrelson Funeral and Cremation Services is caring for the family of Mr. Mahaffee.

D.G. Godfrey

FOREST CITY — D.G. Godfrey, age 72, died Monday, February 11, 2013. Funeral arrangements are incomplete and will be announced by Harrelson Funeral and Cremation Services.

Allen J. Padgett

FOREST CITY — Allen J. Padgett, age 74, died Saturday, February 9, 2013.

A graveside service will be conducted at 2 p.m. on Wednesday, in the Caroleen-Avondale-Henrietta Cemetery. The family will receive friends from 1 until 1:45 p.m. at the funeral home on the day of the service. The body will lie in state from 8 a.m. until service time on the day of the service. Memorial donations are suggested to the charity of choice. Harrelson Funeral and Cremation Services is caring for the family of Mr. Padgett.

Mary Johnson

MARION — Mary Ellen Johnson, age 76, died on Friday, February 8, 2013. A Funeral Service will be held at 11 a.m. on Friday, in McCall Memorial Chapel at Kirksey Funeral Home in Marion. Burial will follow at Mt. Nebo Cemetery. The family will receive friends one hour prior to the service at the funeral home. Memorials may be made to Care Partners Hospice & Palliative Care, 68 Sweeten Creek Road, Asheville, NC 28803

Dr. Larry Crawford

Dr. Larry Clarke Crawford, 68, of Burlington, N. C., died peacefully at home on February 7, 2013, with his wife Glenda and family at his side.

He is survived by his wife, Glenda Ward Crawford, of 518 Fountain Place, Burlington. He is also survived by a daughter, Elizabeth Kate Crawford, her husband, Dow Tom Yeh and their son, Neil Clarke Yeh-Crawford, of Corvallis, Oregon; a son, Kenneth Clarke Crawford and his son, Austin Lee Crawford of Reidsville, North Carolina; a step-son, William Michael Beamon Jr., his wife, Dodi Mann Beamon and their daughters, Piper Grayson Beamon and Quinn Harper Beamon of Gibsonville, North Carolina; and a step-son Patrick Brent Beamon of New York City. He is further survived by a sister, Mildred Bowlin of Sparks, Nevada; a brother, Donald Crawford and his wife, Judy of Rutherfordton, North Carolina; a brother, Jim Crawford and his wife, Bunny of China Grove, North Carolina and a sister, Jolene Guffey and her husband, Hal of Rutherfordton, North Carolina.

He was predeceased by his parents, Rev. R.L. and Maude Jane Buckner Crawford of Rutherfordton, North Carolina; two infant sisters who died in the 1920s; an older sister, Irene Gordon of Forest City, North Carolina; and an older brother, Ray Crawford of Rutherfordton, North Carolina.

Dr. Crawford was born October 22, 1944, and grew up on a farm in Rutherford County. He was educated in the public schools there, graduating from Chase High School in 1963. While at Chase, he was a member and President of several student organizations. He was also a National Merit Scholarship finalist, as well as finalist for the Morehead Scholarship at U.N.C. and the Angier Duke Scholarship at Duke University. He applied for the John Foster Hankins Scholarship at Wake Forest University and was awarded a General Motors Scholarship, which paid for his entire four years at Wake Forest, where he graduated in 1967. He remained devoted to Wake Forest. He was a member of the Deacon Club and attended almost all home basketball and football games for more than forty years.

After Wake Forest, Dr. Crawford attended the Bowman Gray School of Medicine, now the Wake Forest University School of Medicine, graduating in 1971. From 1971 to 1976, he completed an internship and residency in General Surgery at the North Carolina Baptist Hospital, serving as the Chief Resident in General Surgery during the 1970-71 academic year. While completing his training at Baptist Hospital, he served in the United States Army Reserve Medical Corp, stationed at the 312th Evacuation Hospital in Winston-Salem. He resigned his commission to devote full time to his civilian career and was honorably discharged February 14, 1980.

As a General Surgeon, Dr. Crawford was a diplomat of the American Board of Surgery, completing the certification examination in 1977 and examinations for recertification in 1987 and 1997. He was a member of numerous professional societies including the Piedmont Oncology Association, the American College of Surgeons, the Southeastern Surgical Congress, the North Carolina Medical Society, serving as Chair of the Cancer Committee for several years beginning in 1994, the Society of Laparoendoscopic Surgeons, was a charter member American Society of General Surgeons, and member of the Bowman Gray Surgical Society and the American Society of Breast Surgeons.

Locally, Dr. Crawford served on the staffs of Alamance County Hospital, Memorial Hospital of Alamance and Alamance Regional Medical Center. He served on numerous committees at these institutions. He served as Chair of the Cancer Committee for almost twenty years and Chair of the Pastoral Care Committee from 1987 to 1993. He was Field Liaison Fellow for the American College of Surgeons Commission on Cancer from 1986 to 2003.

Dr. Crawford’s major surgical interest was cancer, particularly breast cancer. He treated several hundred patients with breast cancer during his career.

He was a member of a small group of physicians that led the effort to gain accreditation for the local Cancer Center. It was accredited as a Comprehensive Community Cancer Center and passed the reaccreditation surveys each time it was surveyed. Beginning with one medical oncologist and one radiation oncologist, the Alamance Regional Medical Center Comprehensive Cancer Center has grown into a truly comprehensive center recognized throughout North Carolina and beyond.

Dr. Crawford was also a member of a small group that worked to bring Pastoral Care to the local hospital. It now, not only provides care for patients and staff, but is a training center for health care chaplains.

Outside the hospitals, Dr. Crawford served as a member of the American Cancer Society Board of Directors and President from 1981-1983, the North Carolina Chapter of the American Cancer Society, the Christian Counseling Center, Hospice of Alamance County, the Community Council, Home Health of Alamance County. He was a trustee at Gardner Webb University and for several terms, a trustee of the North Carolina Baptist Hospital.

Dr. Crawford has always been active in his church. He was a Sunday School teacher and Deacon at First Baptist Church, Burlington and was a messenger to the Southern Baptist Convention for five years from 1981 to 1985. By 2004 he became convinced that the leadership of the Southern Baptist Convention, who he felt had abandoned basic Baptist Principles many years before, would never return to the denomination in which he grew up.

Dr. Crawford left the Baptist Church and found a haven for his faith in the United Church of Christ, joining the Elon Community Church United Church of Christ. He again became a Deacon and Sunday School teacher and more recently served as Chair of the Pastoral Search that brought the current pastor, Rev. Randy Orwig, to the church for consideration.

Dr. Crawford wishes to thank his nurse, Margie Turner, who for almost 20 years made him more efficient than he would have been without her. He also thanks his neighbors on Fountain Place who helped in so many ways these last few years, especially Grant Range and Dick Simpson.

Dr. Crawford dies with no regrets, except that he is unable to be with Glenda longer and see his grandchildren grow to maturity.

Visitation will be held from 6:00-8:00 p.m. on Tuesday, February 12, 2013 at Rich & Thompson Funeral & Cremation Service at 306 Glenwood Avenue, Burlington, N.C. The funeral will be at 11:00 a.m. Wednesday, February 13, 2013 at Elon Community Church United Church of Christ at 271 North Williamson Avenue, Elon, N.C. 27244.

She was a native of Texas and was preceded in death by her husband, Lt. Col. William Thomas Kidder Jr. and son, Charles Edmond Kidder.

She is survived by grandson, William Kidder and granddaughter, Katrina Kidder.

No services are scheduled at this time.

Crowe’s Mortuary is assisting the Kidder family.

Alice Ross Fite

Alice Ross Fite, age 97, of Forest City, NC, died Saturday, February 9, 2013, at Hospice House of Rutherford County.

She was the daughter of the late Willie Ross and the late Josephine Lewis Ross. She was a native of Rutherford County and the widow of the late G. C. Fite. Alice was a member of Mount Vernon Baptist Church and a home maker. She was also preceded in death by three brothers and three sisters.

She is survived by one daughter, Anita Fite Russell; one son, Dean Fite; one sister, Doris Martin and her husband, G. C.; one sister-in-law, Frances Ross; six grandchildren; 11 great grandchildren; and five great-great grandchildren.

The family will receive friends from 1 until 2 p.m., Tuesday, in the church sanctuary prior to the service. The funeral service will be at Mount Vernon Baptist Church at 2 p.m., Tuesday, February 12, 2013, with Reverend Dr. Scott Courtney officiating. Interment will be at Mount Vernon Baptist Cemetery. Memorials may be made to Mount Vernon Baptist Church, 2676 Hudlow Road, Forest City, N C 28043 or Hospice of Rutherford County, P O Box 336, Forest City, N C 28043.

Guest register at www.mcmahansfuneralhome.com.

McMahan's Funeral Home & Cremation Services in charge of arrangements.

Alan Scott Biggerstaff

BOILING SPRINGS — Alan Scott Biggerstaff, 51, of Maxwell Court, Boiling Springs, died on Saturday, February 09, 2013, at his residence with his loving family by his side.

A native of Cleveland County, he was born on December 17, 1961, to B.B. “Buzz” and Beth Tarleton Biggerstaff of Boiling Springs. He was a Supervisor in the Shipping Department of Cone Mills Corporation Cliffside Plant and was a gifted musician. He was also a member of Boiling Springs United Methodist Church where he was in the Praise and Worship Band alongside his son, Elijah Biggerstaff.

In addition to his parents, he is survived by his wife, Kathy Hilmon Biggerstaff; two sons, Elijah Biggerstaff and Gabriel Biggerstaff, both of Boiling Springs; one daughter, Ashley Blanton and husband, Mitch of Boiling Springs; three sisters, Leigh Russell of Elizabethton, TN, Jill Powell of Boiling Springs, and Kate Wall and husband, Chad of Union Mills; his grandchildren, Bailey Bridges, Zoe Blanton, Sylas Blanton, and Kaden Alan Scott Biggerstaff.

A Celebration of Life Service will be held at 2 p.m. on Wednesday, February 13, 2013, at Boiling Springs Baptist Church with Kathy Biggerstaff, The Rev. Teresa Blanton and The Rev. Tim Trexler officiating. A private interment will be held at a later date at Cliffside Cemetery. Visitation will be held from 6 until 9 p.m. on Tuesday, February 12, 2013, at McKinney-Landreth & Carroll Funeral and Cremation Service.

McKinney-Landreth & Carroll Funeral and Cremation Service is serving the Biggerstaff family.

An online guest register is available at www.mckinneylandrethcarroll.com

Arthur Glenn Corpening, lll

Arthur Glenn Corpening, lll, of High Point, died on Sunday, February 10, 2013, at Hospice Home.

Born in Statesville, NC on January 22, 1940, Glenn was the son of Arthur Glenn Corpening, Jr. and Sara Clay Paylor. In 1947 the family moved to High Point, N.C. where his father was manager of the Sheraton Hotel. He graduated from The McCallie School in 1958 and from North Carolina State in 1962 with a BS Degree in Mechanical Engineering. He later earned a Master’s Degree in Business Administration from Columbia University.

Glenn worked for Uniroyal in Wynnsboro, S.C. before moving to High Point in 1969 to become a salesman for Alderman Studios, where he worked for five years. He then bought an insurance agency, which he owned and operated as Corpening Insurance Center until 1998.

Glenn is survived by his wife, Caroline Norman Corpening of the home; daughters Clay Ijams and husband, Henry of Charlotte, N.C. and Jane Bell and husband, Alex of Rutherfordton, NC; five grandchildren; Chase Ijams, Ginger Ijams, Seton Ijams, Katie Bell and Zander Bell. He is also survived by his brother, John Paylor Corpening and his sister-in-law, Susan Birdsong Corpening .

He was predeceased by his former wife Virginia Tyson Corpening.

A memorial service will be held at 3 p.m. Thursday, February 14, 2013, at St. Mary’s Episcopal Church by Reverend David Umphlett. The family will receive friends following the service in the church Parrish Hall.